Greatest Day Ever!

"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)

As we reflect upon today, this Good Friday, may we remain focused every day as well - it's just too great of a day to only consider it once a year!

The beauty of the day is not that it is brand new, but that we are being made new. The glory of the day is not that it denotes a change, but that we are changed. The blessing of the day is not that it is a day off or a holiday, but that it is a "holy" day.

We often tell others to have a good day. We hope their day is better than yesterday. We wish them well with blessings from above. But the truth for today, this Good Friday, is that it truly is the greatest day ever!

Why today? Today represents Christ's death on the cross. His sacrifice was so we could receive the gift of salvation and have eternal life. The Bible tell us that Jesus bore our sins, shame, and burdens on the cross. We know that as a result what man meant for evil by killing Jesus, God meant it for His good, and for our good. After Jesus endured six hours of suffering on the cross one Friday, we received the greatest blessing of love from our heavenly Father. Jesus took on all of our sins we committed past, present and future. God's love for us is so deep, there was no other but Jesus - the perfect sacrifice. It was the love of the Father that held His Son, Jesus, to the cross, not the nails.

This was the greatest day ever! May we forever cherish this day for Jesus traded places with us on that cruel cross. It's the greatest day ever because He conquered all sin and death so we would never be apart from God. He paid the debt that we could never pay. It was a great day because it was God's day. "He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." (John 19:30b)

We celebrate or observe all that Jesus went through, so we would become fellow heirs on this Good Friday when God demonstrated His greatest love gift to us. This was God's plan, God's will, and God's way. "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit" (I Peter 3:18).

So you see, it is not only Good Friday, but it is the greatest day ever! The next greatest day ever is when you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and follow Him!

Father, thank You that Your love for us was so great, You sent Your only Son as the sacrificial lamb for our redemption. May we humbly acknowledge what Christ endured on the cross each and every day for us. Our love for You, God, is great, but Yours is so much greater. Thank You for preparing an eternal home for us with You. And thank you, Jesus, for Your loving, humble sacrifice for our sins.

Scriptural References: Matt. 27:11-65; Mark 15: 1-40; Luke 23:1-47; John 19:1-37